Folding head rest



Nov. 7, 1961 Filed March 25, 1960 FIG] J. CQHN FOLDING HEAD REST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .TE/M (UH/V FOLDING HEAD REST Filed March 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 75/9/1/ (fill/V United States This invention relates to beach accessories and, more particularly, to a folding head rest equipped with a sunshade for sun bathing purposes.

Ordinarily, it is more comfortable to sun bathe with the head supported above the ground level, especially on sandy beaches and alongside a pool. It is often necessary to shield the face against the rays of the sun for various purposes. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a head rest especially useful for sun bathing purposes, which will support the head in a comfortable and shielded manner for extended periods of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding head rest having a canopy which will protect the head and face of the person during use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a folding head rest and canopy of the type described which can be readily opened and closed for use and storage purposes in a simple and convenient manner, which is extremely durable, and which is substantially light in weight.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a folding head rest and sunshade of the above type having a plurality of pivotally mounted frame members which may be supported directly upon the supporting surface, and which is equipped with a weight-distributing panel member for preventing the sinking of the frame elements into sandy surfaces, such as upon the beach.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a folding head rest and sunshade canopy for use by children and adults alike, that can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost, and which is also provided with means for separately adjusting the position and size of the canopy relative to the head-supporting portions of the assembly.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combination head rest and sun shade canopy made in accordance with one form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but in partially collapsed condition.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but in completely collapsed condition.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a slightly modified form of construction.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the assembly shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but in partially collapsed condition.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but in completely collapsed condition.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4 thereof, a folding head rest and canopy unit 10 made in accordance with one form of the present invention is shown to include a head support portion having a frame formed by a main U-shaped member 12 and an auxiliary U-shaped member 15. The main U- shaped member 12 has a pair of sides 13 pivotally connected to the sides 16 of the auxiliary U-shaped member 15 by means of binge pins 18. A combination spacer and stop bar 19, of generally U-shaped arrangement is 3,007,735 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 ice provided with a pair of sides 20 which are also pivotally carried upon the outermost ends of the hinge pins 18, with the base portion thereof extending between adjacent sections of the sides 13, 16 of the main and auxiliary U-shaped member 12, 15, thus limiting the movement of the main and auxiliary U-shaped members toward the opened position. This bar 19 also serves to maintain the sides of the frame members in predetermined laterally spaced apart relationship.

A pair of extension links 22, are mounted by means of hinge pins 21 upon one end of each side 16 of the auxiliary U-shaped member 15, which sides are substantially shorter than the sides 13 of the main U-shaped member 12. The free end of the extension links 22 are pivotally connected to one end of a pair of connecting side bar links 24 by means of bolts 23, Whereas the opposite end of each of the connecting side bar links 24 is pivotally connected to the free end of the respective sides 13 of the main U-shaped member 12 by means of hinge pins 25.

The hinge pins 21 form an over-center type joint intermediate the respective bolt 23 and hinge pin 18 on both sides of the unit which tend to maintain the head rest in the open position and to retain it against accidental movement toward a closed position during use. During the opening of the head rest portion, such joint is movable past the center line of the bolt 23 and hinge pin 18, thus tending to lock the parts in the open position.

A web 27, preferably of flexible fabric typematerial, is provided with tubular sleeve portions 28 at each end through which connecting side bar links 24 extend. This web 27 provides a comfortable support for the head of the user, the weight of which is carried by the main U- shaped member 12 and auxiliary U-shaped member 15 acting through the extension links 22 and the connecting side bar links 24. The stop bar 19 tends to maintain the sides of the frame members in properly spaced apart relationship under the weight of the head and to prevent further spreading of the frame members beyond the desired open position.

A canopy, including a plurality of nesting canopy ribs 29 and a canopy panel 33 is supported upon the head rest portion. The free ends of each of the U-shaped ribs 29 are supported in spaced apart relationship upon the bolts 23 which also carries spacer washers 30 to facilitate the opening and closing of the canopy and to prevent binding action between the parts. A wing nut 31 carried by each such bolt 23 provides a friction clamp arrangement with the washers 3i) and ribs for maintaining the canopy in any desired open position upon the head rest portion and to maintain the canopy ribs 29 in any desired spaced apart relationship between the fully opened position of the canopy and a partially opened position thereof. The canopy web 33 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart tubular sleeve portions 34, each of which receives the base of one of the U-shaped canopy ribs 29, thus maintaining the parts in proper assembled relationship at all times.

A flexible weight distributing web 36 having a tubular sleeve portion 37 at each end is carried upon the base portions of each of the main and auxiliary U-shaped members 12, 15. This weight distributing web 36 may be ofl any desired width and serves the function of distributing the weight of the loaded head rest evenly upon a larger area of the supporting surface than is possible through the direct engagement of the main frame members with such supporting surface. This web 36 is particularly useful for distributing such loaded weight upon soft surfaces, such as sand or turf, thus preventing the device from sinking into the supporting surface during use. The web 36 also serves as a stop for limiting the opening move- 3 ment of the frame members in conjunction with the stop bar 19.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawing, a slightly modified form of construction 40 is. shown to include a main U-shaped frame member 42 and an auxiliary U- shaped member 45, each of which is provided with a pair of sides 43, 46, respectively at one lower end and a transversely extending cross piece 44, 47, respectively at the opposite free ends of the sides 43, 46. These frame members 42, 45 are hingedly connected to each other by means of hinge pins 48 for selective movement between an open operative position and a closed storage position. The sides 43, 46 of the frame members are maintained in properly spaced apart relationship by means of a spacer bar 49 that is carried at its opposite ends upon the hinge pins 48.

A pair of connecting side bar links 50, formed at one end of a substantially U-shaped bail member 52 is connected by means of pivot pins 51 at the free ends thereof to the free ends of the sides 45 of the auxiliary U-shaped member 45. The opposite ends of the connecting bar links 50, in the open operative position of the unit, are supported upon stop pins 53 carried by the sides '43 of the main U-shaped member 42 at substantially the same level as the hinge pins 51, thus providing means for supporting the connecting side bar links Si in a horizontal position during use. A flexible Web 54 is provided with a tubular sleeve portion 55 at each end which receives each of the connecting side bar links 50 thercthrough. It is to be noted that in both embodiments of the present invention, that the head supporting webs 27, 54 extend transversely of the longitudinally foldable head support portion that remain taut in all positions of the unit, thus facilitating the initial tensioning of such web without effecting the ease of operation of the assembly.

The pivot pins 51 of the unit also pivotally support the free ends of a pair of nesting canopy ribs 56, 57, each of which is provided with a transversely extending base portion that is received within individual longitudinally spaced apart and transversely extending tubular sleeve portions 59 of the canopy web 58. The cross piece 47 of the main U-shaped member 42 of this assembly is also received within one of the tubular sleeve portions 59 of the canopy Web, as is clearly shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing. Thus, the nesting canopy ribs 56, 57 are movable into juxtaposition with the main U-shaped member 42 during the bolting of the assembly, at which time the U-shaped handle bail 52 and its associated connecting side bar links 50 are nested within the inner one of the canopy ribs 57 so as to be foldable compactly in a simple and efficient manner.

The assembly 40 is also provided with a weight distributing web 62 that has tubular sleeve portions 63 at each end which are receivable within the respective bases of the main and auxiliary U-shaped members 42, 45, which web functions in the manner hereinbefore described to distribute the weight of the device in use upon soft supporting surfaces. In addition, the web 62 in the present embodiment of the invention serves as stop means in conjunction with the canopy web 58 to limit the pivotal movement of the frame members in the opening direction of the parts.

In both embodiments of the present invention, the unit is conveniently folded into a compact storage position when not in use, and may be readily opened and manipulated by young and old persons alike for use on all types of supporting surfaces. The various webs are preferably constructed of a washable and sturdy fabric material of any desired design and configuration.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

What I claim as new and desire to Patent of the United States is:

' l. A folding heat rest comprising, in combination, a head support including a folding frame selectively foldable longitudinally between an open operative position and a closed storage position, a flexible web extending transversely across said frame in a taut condition in all positions of said frame, and a canopy carried by said frame, said canopy being movable longitudinally between an open operative position overlying said frame and a closed storage position relative to said frame, said frame comprising a main U-shaped member having a base and a pair of sides, an auxiliary U-shaped member having a base and a pair of sides, pivot means pivotally connecting said sides of said main and auxiliary U-shaped frames together, a pair of bar links each pivotally supported at one end upon the free end of one side of one of said main U-shaped members, and said flexible web extending between and carried at opposite ends upon said pair of bar links, a pair of extension links each having a joint connection at one end to the free end of one of said sides of said auxiliary U-shaped frame member, and the opposite end of each said extension link being pivotally connected to said opposite end of one of said bar links.

2. A folding head rest as set forth in claim 1, further comprising stop means limiting the extent of movement of said frame toward said open position, said stop means comprising a cross bar pivotally carried at opposite ends upon said pivot means and extending in blocking relationship between adjacent portions of said pivotally connecting sides of said main and auxiliary U-shaped frames.

3. A folding head rest as set forth in claim 1, wherein said joint connection of said extension links each is intermediate said pivot means and said opposite end of said respective extension link and movable over center of said respective pivot means and the pivotal connection of said opposite end of said extension link to said bar link in said open position of said frame.

4. A folding head rest as set forth in claim 3, wherein said canopy comprises a plurality of nesting U-shaped ribs pivotally mounted upon said joint connections of said extension links, and a flexible panel having longitudinally spaced apart tubular sleeve portions each receiving the central bight portion of each one of said U-shaped ribs.

protect by Letters References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,975,520 Simmons Oct. 2, 1934 2,021,808 Platter Nov. 19, 1935 2,543,597 Peery' Feb. 27, 1951 2,574,590 Ross Nov. 13, 1 951 

